King Tides Will Return to Tacoma

Residents of the Puget Sound area can expect unusually high tides called “King Tides” to return to waterfronts in the area next week.  On January 14, 15, and 16, the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun will align to create a greater than normal pull on the Earth’s oceans. 

On December 17 and 18 similar conditions pushed the waters of the Puget Sound up and over the normal high water marks in a number of waterfront locations.  Brown’s Point Lighthouse Park was one of those locations that saw high tides (13.3), putting much of the park under water.  Damage caused by those December high tides was compounded by the unusually high winds (50 mph). 

Brown’s Point Lighthouse Park weathers the storm.

Normal conditions at the park.

Photos by Jim Harnish, Points Northeast Historical Society

Pictures from the Points Northeast Historical Society show the lighthouse and lightkeeper’s cottage surrounded by water about three feet deep with waves crashing near half-submerged picnic benches.  According to the PNHS, there was no damage to structures, but the park and buildings did need cleanup after being under water, including the removal of tons of beach gravel and logs.  Metro Parks Tacoma, which maintains the park (owned by the Coast Guard) says that this was not the only waterfront park to sustain damage in the stormy weather, and reminds the public to keep an eye on the tide and the time when exploring on the waterfront.

The Washington Department of Ecology has more information on King Tides, and has started the Washington King Tide Photo Initiative, which asks citizens to take and share photos of the unusually high tides.  The collection of images will document how these high tides affect the shorelines and infrastructure in the Puget Sound and coastal areas, and will help visualize what sea level rise could look like in the future. 

King Tides Predicted for Tacoma
January 14, 2013 – 7:06 a.m. +13.6
January 15, 2013 – 7:43 a.m. +13.5
January 16, 2013 – 8:21 a.m. +13.3